The harvesting method is dictated by a combination of the requirements of the
processing method, economic considerations and availability of labour. In general, four
harvesting systems can be identified: 1) multi-pass selective picking (finger picking) where
the picker takes only ripe cherries; 2) multi-pass stripping where whole bearing shoots are
stripped off only if bearing predominantly ripe cherry; 3) single-pass stripping where
everything is stripped off as the workers get through the orchard; 4) mechanical
harvesting where machines, sometimes hand-operated, use vibration to knock the fruit
from the trees.
In addition to these methods of bringing in the main harvest, there are other activities
before and after main harvest, some of which bring in fruit. Often a ‘fly harvest’ collects
prematurely ripened fruit. Weeding and cleaning the orchard floor to expedite the
spreading of mats or the collection of fruit that goes to ground during harvest is
conducted.